Cabinet wall panels and connecting means therefor



Dec. 1, 1964 R. M. COURTWRIGHT 3,159,440

CABINET WALL PANELS AND CONNECTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed March 14, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. H ROBERT M. OOURTWRIGHT 1964 R. M. COURTWRIGHT3,

CABINET WALL PANELS AND CONNECTING MEANS THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMarch 14, 1963 INVENTOR. ROBERT M. GOURTWRIGHT BY j 95% ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,159,448 CABINET WALL PANELS AND CUNNECTING MEAN TEEREFQRRobert M. Courtwright, Tacoma, Wash, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Educators Manufacturing (J0mpany, Tacoma, Wash, acorporation of Caiifornia Filed Mar. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 265,255 5Claims. (6!. 312-463) This invention relates to improvements in cabinet,bookcase, desk and table construction. More particularly, it relates tothe fabrication of articles of manufacture wherein frame members ofmetal are combined with wall panels manufactured from wood products suchas plywood, chipboard or various lightweight soft woods.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide articles ofmanufacture of the type or character of those above named, that may beshipped on a knocked down or flat panel condition, and later rigidlyassembled at the point of use with a minimum of equipment and labor.

()ther objects and advantages of the invention reside in the specificdetails of formation of the frame members and in the grooving andcutting of their companion wall forming panels for their assembly andsecurement thereto.

Still further objects reside in the format-ionand application to thepanels and frame members of novel holding clips that may be applied insuch manner as to obtain and maintain the desired rigidity ofconstruction and utility of the fabricated articles.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention,I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferredforms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein--FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing, in a reduced scale, one form ofcabinet or case embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlargement, taken vertically through the 3,159,440Patented Dec. 1, 1964 ice herein shown as employed particularly in thefabricating of such articles as desks, bookcases, tables and cabinetsbut can be advantageously employed for the building of book shelves andvarious forms of display cases. The box-like cabinet shown in FIG. 1 istypical of the various forms of articles embodied by this invention.Cabinet dimensions may be changed to suit requirements or desireswithout departing from the invention as herein set forth.

The rectangular article shown in FIG. 1 is one section or unit with anopen front, that may or may not be a sembled with others of like kind.It comprises a metal frame structure made up of two channel-like,horizontal rails 1iliti' and two vertical end members or posts 1111 oflike formation; these frame parts being shown to be joined at their endsin such manner as to define the rectangular front opening of thecabinet. Assembled with these frame members 10-10 and Il11' are oppositeend wall forming panels 12 and 12'; a bottom wall panel 13; top wallpanel 14- and a back wall forming panel 15, as best seen in FIG. 4. Inthe present instance, the channel-like nails illlltl and posts 11-11 arealuminum extrusions and the wall forming panels are of the materialknown in trade as chipboard which has been pressed to substantialsolidity to give it the required durability and provide the necessaryrigidity in the cabinet construction.

In the preparing of the various wall panels, those that are to form thetop wall 14 and bottom wall 13 of the unit are rectangular and have thesame dimensions of length and width. Also, each is formed completelyacross its forward edge portion, parallel with and equally spaced fromits front edge, in the top and bottom surfaces thereof as best seen inFIG. 9, with square cut channels 16 and 16 and each of the forwardcorners of these panels are square notched, as at 17 in FIG. 9 bycutting out the forward edge or lip portion back to the inside edges ofside wall panel as assembled with corresponding frame I members.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional detail, taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 2,showing the assembled relationship of wall panels.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail on line 5-5 in FIG. 1 showing thejoining of frame members comprised in a front corner assembly.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail on line 6-6, in FIG. 1, showingone of the anchoring means applied for joining the side wall panels tothe back panels.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section on line 77 in FIG. 5, showing one of thelocking clips as applied.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one part of a frame joining clip.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an edge portion of a wall panel asprepared for the application of a metal frame member to its forwardedge.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- The present use of metal frameforming members and manufactured wall panels of light weight materials,is

the two channels 116.

Also, across the rear'edge portion of the top surface of bottom panel13, a channel 18 is cut and a like channel 153x is similarly cut in andacross the bottom surface of the top panel 14, as in FIG. 4, for apurpose presently explained. Furthermore, the thickness of the forwardportions of panels 13 and 14 are slightly reduced by planing off the topsurface of the forward edge or lip of the top panel and the bottomsurface of the lip of the lower panel for a purpose later apparent.

The forward edge lip of each of these two wall panels 13 and 14 is thenequipped at each end adjacent the notched corner with an anchoring clip20 designed for joining of the frame members. Each clip is formed from aflat strip of resilient sheet metal bent to the U-shaped formation shownbest in FIG. 8, thus providing it with a pair of leg portions 2011-291)and a fiat base or end wall 200. The two leg portions of the clip havesharpened teeth 21 struck or punched inwardly therefrom and the basewall 200 is formed centrally with a bolt passing hole 22, as shown inthe detailed view of FIG; 8.

In applying one of these securing clips 20 to the lip of a wall panel,the leg portions thereof are sprung slightly apartv and applied, as inFIG. 3, along opposite sides of. the lip portion of the panel, parallelwith its f0rward edge and with the base end of the clip projectingacross the corner notch and even with the end edge of the panel as inFIG. 3. The teeth 21 of paired legs are then pressed into the top andbottom surfaces of the panel lip.

A securing bolt 25 is then applied inwardly through the bolt hole 22 inthe base of the clip and threaded into a lock nut 26 that is loc ted inposition within the base end of the clip between the two leg portions aswell shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The outer end portion of each bolt 25 is vertically channeled inopposite sides, as at 250 in FIGS. 3 and 5, thus to provide the boltwith an anchoring head 25x for a purpose presently to be explained.

After the clip members 26 of FIG. 8 have been applied to the ends of thelip edges, the frame rails iii it) are slipped endwise over the lips totheir full lengths; the flanged edges of the rails being slidablyreceived in the channels 1616' as shown in H6. 3. It is to be noted thatthese rails come flush with the end edges of the two panels.

The end rails or posts 11-11 are similarly applied to the forward lipedges of the wall panels 12 and 12' and brought flush at its endstherewith.

It will be understood, by the showing in FIG. 3, that when the rails andit) are slipped into position on the lip portions of the panels 13 and14, they will tightly overlie the leg portions of the clips to press andhold their teeth 21 firmly on and against release from the panel lips.

The channel-like frame members 1tl10' and 11l1' are all of the samecross-sectional dimensions. Each has a flat base or bottom wall B andfiat opposite side walls SS at right angles to the bottom wall. The sidewalls have inturned flanges F at their edges that terminate in outturnedflanges G. In applying the members 1111 to the forward edges of wallpanels 12l2, the open side of each member is slipped endwise onto thelip portion with the flanges FG moving into and along the channels16-16.

It is to be observed that the side walls of the frame members 11-11 areprovided in their end portions with holes 19 for passing of the boltheads x therethrough in the assembling of the frame members. This willpresently be more fully explained.

After the frame members have been applied to the lip portions of thewall panels, the panels are assembled by bringing the panels into ajoining relationship and projecting the head portions of the anchoringbolts 25 as secured in the clips 20x applied to the lip of thehorizontal panel 14, into the upper end holes 19 of the vertical endframe members 1111', and likewise applying the heads of the anchoringbolts 25 of the clips as applied to the lip of the lower wall panel 13into the lower end holes 19 of the end posts, and then securing the boltheads 25x to the posts 11l1' by the application of holding clips intothe open ends of the end posts to engage and lock with the bolt heads asseen in FIG. 5.

Each of the securing or holding clips 40 is of squared U-shape as shownbest in FIG. 3 and is formed with a flat base wall 43b and parallelopposite side leg portions 41 that are adapted to be received snuglywithin the open ends of the channel-like posts between its side walls.Each leg 41 is formed with a slot 42 so positioned as to receive theneck portion of the anchoring bolt as extended into the vertical framemember through the side wall hole 19.

In the formation of the neck receiving slots 42 in the legs of theholding clips the metal of the leg is turned inwardly along the oppositeedges of the slot to provide wedges 420 that will engage the bolt head25x with drawing effect that pulls the end of the horizontal railtightly against the side walls of the vertical rail 11. It is desirable,from the standpoint of appearance, that the holding clips 40 be pressedinto the open ends of the rails 1111', as seen in FIGS. 5 and 7.

Before the final joining of wall panels 12-42, and 1314 the back wallpanel 15 is positioned with its longitudinally top edge seated in therear edge groove 18x of 4 the top wall panel 14 and its bottom edgeseated in the groove 18 that is formed across the top surface closelyadjacent the back edge of bottom wall panel 13.

Likewise, the opposite end edges of the back wall panel are engaged ingrooves 30 formed in the inside surface of the side wall panels 12-12.After the Wall panels have thus been assembled, angle clips 50, as shownin FIGS. 2 and 6 are applied in the required number within the rearcorner angles of the enclosure, and secured thereto by screws 51 appliedthrough the wings of the clip and threaded onto metal sleeves 52 thatare, in turn, threaded into the panels as seen in FIG. 6, to insure theholding of the screws 51.

When all panels and frame members have been assembled and properlyjoined, they provide a rigid and substantial case or cabinet. Ifdesired, such cabinets may be assembled in multiples using a commonpanel between components, thereby eliminating duplication of wall panelscommon to both installations.

This invention is characterized by the joining of the metal framemembers without welding, with concealed fasteners, rigidity ofsecurement being effected by the wedging action of the clips 40 with theheads 25x of bolts 25 adjustably secured in the fasteners 26.

The application of the frame rails 1l16' over the clips 29 insures theirsecuremen-t to the horizontal panels, and the clips 49 applied to theends of vertical frame rails 11-11 draws the parts tightly in rigidassembly.

It is to be understood that in the making of cabinets of the typeillustrated in FIG. 1, the back edge could embody the same metal frameconstruction if this should be desired.

I claim:

1. In a knock-down cabinet construction; two panels assembled in rightangular relationship with their forward edges even and with a sidesurface portion of one panel disposed flatly against the end edgesurface of the other panel, a frame rail of channel form applied in aholding connection over and along the forward edge portion of each paneland terminating at their ends fiush with the end edges of thecorresponding panel; one of said rails being formed with a bolt hole ina side wall thereof, at a point in registration with the adjacent endedge surface of the other panel and rail, a bolt-holding clip secured tothe end edge portion of said other panel and a bolt adjustably mountedby said clip and extended therefrom; said bolt having a head portion atits extended end applied through said bolt hole of the adjacent railwall and means holdingly securing said bolt in the rail containing thebolt hole, thereby to join the panels in assembled relationship.

2. A cabinet construction according to claim 1 wherein the means forholdingly securing the bolt head portion in said rail containing thebolt hole comprises a locking clip inserted in the rail that receivesthe bolt head portion and is interlocked with the bolt head portion tosecure the bolt head portion against withdrawal or looseness.

3. In a knock-down cabinet construction, two wall forming panelsassembled in right angular relationship, with the end edge surface ofone panel abutted flatly against a side surface of the other and flushwith its end edge surface, and with their forward longitudinal even;said even longitudinal edges each being formed with a projecting tongue,the tongue of one of said panels terminating short of the end surface ofthat panel; each of said tongues being grooved in opposite faces totheir full length, a channeled rail, telescopically fitted over eachtongue, each rail having inturned flanges along edges of its side walls,said grooves slidably containing the rail flanges therein, a U-shapedclip with its legs applied against opposite sides of that tongue whichterminated short of the end of the panel, and clamped thereagainst andholdingly engaged therewith beneath the opposite wall portion of thecorresponding rail; a bolt having a head end portion secured adjustablyin the base end Wall of said clip with its head end portion extendedoutwardly therefrom, said rail as applied to that tongue of the otherpanel having a bolt receiving hole positioned to receive said bolt headportion therethrough and a bolt head portion engaging clip applied inthe open end of the bolt receiving rail and holdingly engaged with saidbolt head portion to retain said rails in holding connection.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the said bolt is threaded atits inner end into a holding nut that is secured by a said U-shapedclip, and wherein the head end portion of said bolt has cam slots formedthereacross at opposite sides, and said bolt head portion engaging clipis formed as a U-shaped clip with a leg portion recessed to embrace thehead end of the bolt between them with camming efiect, thus to draw thejoined parts firmly together.

5 mounting tongue by the overlapping walls of the channeled rail asapplied to the tongue.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,096,94210/37 Suters 312--140 FOREIGN PATENTS 665,631 1/52 Great Britain.

15 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A KNOCK-DOWN CABINET CONSTRUCTION; TWO PANELS ASSEMBLED IN RIGHTANGULAR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR FORWARD EDGES EVEN AND WITH A SIDESURFACE PORTION OF ONE PANEL DISPOSED FLATLY AGAINST THE END EDGESURFACE OF THE OTHER PANEL, A FRAME RAIL OF CHANNEL FORM A APPLIED IN AHOLDING CONNECTION OVER AND ALONG THE FORWARD EDGE PORTION OF EACH PANELAND TERMINATING AT THEIR ENDS FLUSH WITH THE END EDGES OF THECORRESPONDING PANEL; ONE OF SAID RAILS BEING FORMED WITH A BOLT HOLE INA SIDE WALL THEREOF, AT A POINT IN REGISTRATION WITH THE ADJACENT ENDEDGE SURFACE OF THE OTHER PANEL AND RAIL, A BOLT-HOLDING CLIP SECURED TOTHE END EDGE PORTION OF SAID OTHER PANEL AND A BOLT ADJUSTABLY MOUNTEDBY SAID CLIP AND EXTENDED END APPLIED BOLT HAVING A HEAD PORTION AT ITSEXTENDED END APPLIED THROUGH SAID BOLT HOLE OF THE ADJACENT RAIL WALLAND MEANS HOLDINGLY SECURING SAID BOLT IN THE RAIL CONTAINING THE BOLTHOLE, THEREBY TO JOIN THE PANELS IN ASSEMBLED RELATIONSHIP.